After crushing Jack Draper's Italian Open dreams on Wednesday afternoon, Carlos Alcaraz has revealed his 'really good weapon' that helped him dominate the match.
The Spaniard secured his revenge against Draper with a 6-4, 6-4 victory to reach the semi-finals of the Italian Open in Rome, having previously lost to the Briton earlier in the year.
The Spaniard rallied impressively from 2-4 down to win the first set on Campo Centrale.
Despite letting slip an early break lead in the second set, Alcaraz roared back to defeat the British player, with the win extending his head-to-head record against Draper to 4-2.
Carlos Alvaraz defeated Jack Draper in the quarter-finals of the Italian Open
Reuters
It marked their first meeting on clay, with Alcaraz avenging his previous defeat to Draper at Indian Wells in March.
Alcaraz revealed that a change in mindset was crucial to his victory over Draper: "The most important thing I did today was not thinking about the results at all, if I was up or if I was down."
He admitted that before their previous match, he hadn't slept well and was more concerned about Draper's game than his own. This time, however, his approach was different.
"I just tried to do the things that make me happy, playing aggressive, making drop shots to the net, things I like to do on the court. That made the difference today," he continued.
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Carlos Alcaraz will face Italian Lorenzo Musetti in the semi-final
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"I played with such high rhythm in the whole match, I didn't let him dominate or stay long in the rallies. It was a really good weapon for me."
He added: "I'm just playing great tennis on clay. I started the clay season really well. I got injured after Barcelona, but I'm happy to feel in a good rhythm playing good tennis again on clay."
Despite Alcaraz's dominance, Draper showed he could challenge the clay court specialist, and their growing rivalry added another intriguing chapter on the Roman clay.
Former British No 1 Laura Robson offered her analysis of the contest to Sky Sports Tennis.
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"It was an interesting match that ebbed and flowed without either team playing well at the same time. There was flashes of brilliance from both players," she said.
"Jack got a good start but lose a bit of intensity with his footwork. They tried to figure each other out but, in the big moments, it just felt like Carlos was the fresher.
She continued: "It was very close, the scoreline doesn't tell the full story of the match, but it was a match where Jack will feel he maybe could have edged the key moments."
The victory has significant implications for Alcaraz's ranking position, ensuring he will rise to No 2 in the ATP Rankings next week.
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Laura Robson said both players showed flashes of 'brilliance'
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This elevation could prove crucial for the upcoming French Open at Roland Garros, with his new ranking meaning Alcaraz would avoid a potential meeting with world No 1 Jannik Sinner before the final.
This favourable seeding gives the Spanish star a potentially clearer path through the tournament.
Alcaraz, already a French Open champion, will be looking to capitalise on this advantage when the Grand Slam begins later this month, and the clay court specialist appears to be finding form at the perfect time for Roland Garros.
Despite the loss, Draper's performance leaves him just behind Taylor Fritz in the battle for the No 4 spot in the ATP Rankings.
The British player could potentially overtake his American rival if he maintains his current form at Roland Garros.
Draper has shown he can compete with elite players on clay, traditionally considered a challenging surface for British competitors.
His ability to trouble Alcaraz, one of the premier clay court specialists, bodes well for his French Open prospects.
The growing rivalry between Draper and Alcaraz continues to develop as both players progress in their careers, and provides a fascinating spectacle in each clash.
